Supporting structurally weak economic areas to help them catch up and provide improved standards of living across Germany remains an important priority. This includes disparities between East and West as well as the challenges of remote rural jurisdictions and areas marked by the decline of once-dominant heavy industries. However, as wealthier, and more urban hotspots attract more entrepreneurs, younger and higher skilled workers, and financial capital, it pushes against a more balanced national economy.
eBay supports small businesses in countries across the globe. This is especially true in Germany, where entrepreneurs have thrived on its level-playing field ecommerce platform for almost 25 years, taking advantage of sales opportunities locally, nationally, and across borders. eBay is a proven tool that empowers even very small businesses to reach consumers where they are, which is particularly valuable to small and medium-sized enterprises operating in areas that are less prosperous and more remote.
Recently, we released a new report focused on Germany and demonstrating that eBay is fostering vibrant small business activity in a way that is more balanced than growth in the overall economy, helping counter the trend of urban hotspot dominance and supporting governmental goals to advance business activity in areas that are structurally weak. Across the country, Regions and Districts that dominate the traditional Germany economy generally do not lead in eBay Digital Density, a measurement of eBay small business activity on a per-capita basis. Instead, independent small businesspeople based in a wide range of Districts are providing an inclusive counterbalance to the prevailing economic growth trends.
Key highlights include:
- More intense selling activity is coming from eBay small businesses in Germany’s structurally disadvantaged and rural areas than from the most well-off urban centers.
- The Top 20 Digital Density Districts have a per capita GDP 20 percent below the national average.
- Half of the eBay Top 20 are among Germany’s least densely populated Districts.
- Collectively, structurally disadvantaged Districts average an Index score of 108 for eBay Digital Density, beating Germany’s wealthy Districts by almost 20 percent.
Moving forward, policies and public investments that facilitate ecommerce by truly independent small businesses offer more than just additional economic growth. Instead, they will disproportionately pay dividends in areas that are otherwise falling behind the growth hotspots, spurring inclusive growth and promoting social cohesion.
We invite you to read the full report here.